New Orleans Saints offensive linemen disappointed in final play

The day after the New Orleans Saints failed to score from the Green Bay 1 on the final play of a 42-34 loss Thursday night to the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans players and coaches were talking about what might have been. "When you're on the 1-yard line in goal-line offense, there are a handful of runs versus the front that they play, two or three runs, and then it's play-action pass," Saints Coach Sean Payton said Friday. "We felt pretty good about our matchups inside. Looking back at the tape, those guys inside did a really good job for us. The penetration came from outside, which really ended up stopping the play."

Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram is stuffed at the line of scrimmage on the game's final play of a 42-34 season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

"He's definitely developing into one of the most accurate passers, a lot of back-shoulder throws," free safety Malcolm Jenkins said Friday. "It's hard to defend. I feel we covered well. I'm biased. Drew is like that, (Tom) Brady and (Peyton) Manning. I think it was good to see that kind of challenge early."

Cornerback Jabari Greer said of Rodgers: "He made some great throws, and the receivers made some great catches. We played our assignments, but they're a great offense. They made the throws, they made the catches, to convert."

YOUTH IS SERVED: Payton said he saw positives in the play of some of the young defensive linemen. The Saints played without defensive end Will Smith, who served the first game of a two-game suspension.

"We had some young guys get some playing time for the first time and getting a lot of reps," Payton said. "Cameron Jordan got a lot of snaps in his debut, and Turk McBride. A lot of those younger guys were in there and playing with real good energy and effort. Jeff Charleston coming off the injury he had a couple weeks prior. Junior Galette. Those are guys without a lot of playing experience that received a lot of snaps, and I think that's going to benefit them as we go down the road in the schedule. As a coach, you're always anxious to see how your young guys are going to play and perform. Those guys did some real good things last night."

EJECTION DISCUSSION: Concerning whether Packers cornerback Charles Woodson should have been ejected for throwing an uppercut at Saints tight end David Thomas, Payton said: "We don't get the same looks that you guys do in regards to the visuals. I've only heard it. In hindsight, there is a protocol that's supposedly followed, and obviously it wasn't last night."

"I was right there," Brees said. "It was an obvious punch. I'm surprised he didn't get kicked out of the game."

ODDS AND ENDS: Payton said the Saints will get two days off before having a light practice Monday. Tuesday will be "a normal day off," he said, and the team will resume preparations Wednesday for the home opener against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 18. ...

Thursday's game drew an average national TV audience of 27.2 million, according to Nielsen totals distributed by NBC. The special weeknight "Sunday Night Football" broadcast topped out at 30.5 million viewers between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. The game's average audience fell shy of NBC's record for "NFL Kickoff" games -- 27.5 million viewers set last year by the Saints and Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, WDSU-TV led all NBC affiliates with a 57.7 rating (with each rating point representing 1 percent of the total TV market, or about 6,360 households) and 75 share (viewership percentage in homes with a set in use). Local viewership peaked with a 59.5 rating between 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m.